Tough weather conditions meant that the scoring was high in Tralee, but Peter O’Keeffe finished his 36 holes tied for the lead. Rounds of 76 and 75 from O’Keeffe were matched by Tralee’s Fergal O’Sullivan. The Tralee man has won already this season, he retained his Ballybunion Scratch Title a few weeks ago and will be fancied by locals. Both O’Sullivan and O’Keeffe are on 151, three shots ahead of second placed John Murphy who had two rounds of 77.
Gary Ward is the next best Cork player, but he’s 11 shots off the lead and in 12th place. Cathal Butler and James Sugrue were both in contention after the first round, but they both had afternoon rounds in the mid eighties which has all but ruled out a win.
Third round takes place tomorrow and is limited to the top 30.
Kerry Scratch Cup (36 hole scores)
151 Peter O’Keeffe, 76,75
151 Fergal O’Sullivan 76,75
154 John Murphy 77,77
155 Ted Collins 77,78
156 Evan Farrell 78, 78
Selected others:
162 Gary Ward
164 Con O’Callaghan
165 Cathal Butler
165 James Sugrue
167 Cillian Moloney
170 Conor Dowling
There was no joy for John Murphy in Paris today as he tried to improve his position at the French Amateur Open. Murphy was tied for 5th place after 36 holes and with 36 more to play today. Unfortunately the Kinsale man couldn’t capitalise and a morning 72 (+1) meant that a win was out of reach. Things weren’t much better in the final round this afternoon, an eagle on the par five ninth was the only positive to report. He singed for a 74 in the afternoon giving him a final score of +2 in a tie for 20th place. Murphy is staying in France this week and will play in the Alps Tour event that takes place in ClementAder.
John Murphy is in the top five heading into the final day of the French Amateur Open at Chantilly Golf Club. Murphy started the second round in a tie for 12th place but shot 3 under to jump up seven places. Murphy had six birdies but a cold putter and lost ball meant that he dropped three shots to sign for a 68.
It wasn’t the low round that he promised – but in any case it was enough to give Peter O’Keeffe the lead going into tomorrow’s final round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.
Peter O’Keeffe and John Murphy both sit within touching distance of the lead after solid performances in round two of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. Royal County Down was firm and bouncy again today but the links proved a challenge as just a dozen golfers broke par at the testing Irish Open venue. O’Keeffe was out this afternoon and he continued in the same form as yesterday with plenty of birdies. Two early bogies didn’t distract the Douglas member, and he got back to level before bogeying the the ninth to turn on +1. Three birdies followed on the back nine but a dropped shot on the 14th meant that he signed for another 70 and is now one off the lead on -2. Sean Towndrow 
Peter O’Keeffe shot a one under par 70 on the opening day of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. Royal County Down was playing firm and fast today thanks to the recent dry weather and it proved a test for the Irish golfers as only seven made it into the top 25. O’Keeffe started brightly with a birdie on the first but dropped shots on 4 and 8 meant that he turned on +1. There were no more bogies for the Douglas member, and he birdied the 10th and 12th before parring his way home. He’s in a tie for 8th place and three shots off the lead.
Cork Golf News 